Nozzle illuminating means



1943- J. F. KENDRICK NOZZLE ILLUMINATING MEANS Filed Oct. 28, 194-1 @N mm MN e K w i lww g \\\\\\\\\\\-\k \V mm m HQ SHH D- a ra m mm. m MN hm @H NH 5 5 m mm... J

Patented. Sept.

J NOZZLE ILLUMINATING MEAN S JohnF. Kendrick, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to International-Stacey Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 28, 1941, Serial No. 416,836

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to illuminating means and more particularly to a device for-.illuminating the discharge end of a nozzle of the type employed in dispensing inflammable fluids such as gasoline.

Other devices for performing this function have previously been proposed but they were all subject to the objection of being unsafe for use with inflammable liquids. Many of the prior 'devices had lamps positioned in the outer end portions of the dispensing nozzles where they were easily broken and required the extension of wire or other conductors through or along the nozzles. These wires were apt to wear and break during use whereby sparks could be produced which would ignite the liquid dispensed by the nozzle.

One oi the primary objects of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character set forth which will avoid the objections to the prior devices and be positively safe for use on nozzles.for dispensing gasoline or other inflammable liquids.

Another object rests in the provision of an illuminating means for nozzles wherein the energized element or lamp is located remotely from the outlet portion of the nozzle and light transmitting means, such as lucite," is utilized to conduct the light rays from the lamp to the part of the device to be illuminated.

Another object resides in the formation of a light for fluid dispensing nozzles which will include a casing for receiving a lamp and batteries,

the casing being so formed that engaging and disengaging contacts used to light and extinguish the lamp will be protected from gas charged air normally found near thenozzles, means being provided also to transmit the light rays from the casing to the outlet end of the nozzle where they may be employed to illuminate the interior of a gasoline-receiving tank.

A further object is met by forming the casin with telescopic sections and providing means for moving the sections upon the operation of valve means carried by. the nozzle, the telescopic movement of the sections providing for the energizing of the lamp "whereby the outlet of the nozzle will with .a light formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig.2 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicatedby the line lIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken through a modified form of light.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the

numeral I designates the nozzle in its entirety.

within the body to control fluid flow through the port. The valve 6 is formed with a stem 1 which projects from each side of the valve and has one end in engagement with a compression spring 8 which bears at one end against a spider 9 formed with the fitting 3. The spring 8 normally serves to maintain the valve in a position to obstruct fluid flow through the body.

When it is desired to establish the flow of fluid,

the valve is moved away from the wall 5 to open the port. This movement is accomplished be illuminated when the fluid control valve is p opened.

'Still further objects will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal-sectional view taken through a fluid dispensing nozzle provided through the provision of a pin l0 which projects through the side wall of the nozzle into the path of movement of an actuating lever designated generally by the numeral I l. Rocking movement of the pin is attained through the provision of a ball l2 supported in a bearing l3 carried by the body. After the fluid flows through the opening in the wall 5, it passes from the body 2 through an outlet tube I4. The body 2 and the tube are each provided with bent portions in order to direct the outlet end of the tube laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body. A suitable connection I5 is provided to secure the tube to the body in fluid-tight relation. In the form of the invention shown, the tube I has a branch I6 projecting generally rearwardly from the tube. This branch is disposed at the under side of the body and has the open end thereof closed by a cap I I. The outer portion of the cap is threaded for the reception of a packing nut ill, the outer portion of the cap also having a. socket for the reception of suitable packing material I'll. The socket and the nut [8 form a fluidtight joint around a tube 20 which extends into the outlet tube I4 through the branch and longitudinally oi the outlet tube to the discharge end thereof. The tube 20 receives a rod-like element 200. which is composed of a light conducting material such as methyl methacrylate, which is known in the trade as lucite, or anyother material having the same characteristics of transmitting light from end to end thereof without the liberation of heat.

The under side of the body 2 has a guard member 2| suitably secured thereto and the actuating lever assembly I I is pivoted on the guard as at 22. The lever assembly includes a manually actuated lever Ila and a roller IIb iournaled in an opening provided in the lever. The roller engages an actuating dog 23 pivotally supported in the bracket 2| in registration with the outer end of the valve actuating pin I6. One edge of the do 23 engages the outer extremity of the pin Ill and when the lever Ila is moved about its pivot, the roller Ilb will engage one edge of the dog and impart pivotal movement thereto. This movement of the dog causes the pin I to rock in its bearing and move the valve 6 away from the port in the wall 5. The lever I la has a bifurcated extension 26 on the opposite side of the pivot from the portion of the lever engaged by the operator.

The portion 26 of the lever projects outwardly beyond the guard 2| for engagement with a portion of a flash light assembly 25. Thi assembly includes inner and outer telescoping tubular members 26 and 21, the latter being rigidly secured to the bracket by clamping rings 28. Other fastening means could be employed instead of the rings, the only requirement being that the fastening means be of a type suitable to permit quick removal of the flash light so that it may be taken to a safe place for the removal and insertion of the engagement of the contact on the bulb assembly with the center terminal of the battery and the lamp will be illuminated. Light rays will flow from the lamp through the transparent wall 30 and strike the exposed rear end of the light transmitting element 260.. This member will conduct the light rays to the discharge end of the outlet tube I4 and illuminate the interior of the tank into which the outlet tube is inserted.

To cause a spreading of the light rays and a better illumination of the tank interior, the elenew batteries or other parts necessary for the operation of the device.

The member 21 has a wall to close the rear end and form a backing member for a spring 29 used in the flash light. The tube 26 is closed at its for-'- ward end by a transparent wall 30 which i preferably composed of material highly resistant to breakage. The transparent wall is so secured to the tube as to prevent the entrance of gas-laden fumes into the interior of the casing formed by the tubular elements. The inner portion of the tube 26 has shoulder means 3I for en ement by one end of a sleeve 32, the opposite end of which engages a shoulder formed on a lamp supporting assembly 33. This assembly includes a spring 34, the rear end of which engages the forward end of a battery 35. One or more batteries may be employed depending upon the desires of the manufacturer. The rear end of the battery engages the spring 29 provided in the rear end of the outer tube 21.

The spring 34 is weaker than the spring 23 so that when the tubes 26 and 21 are telescoped, the spring 34 will compress first. and permit a contact 36 on the bulb supporting assembly to contact the center terminal of the battery 35. After this engagement,- continued movement of the tube 26 into the tube 21 will compres the spring 29. The telescoping movement of the tubes is caused by the movement of the lever Ila to valve opening positions. To facilitate the transmission of movement from the lever to the tube 26, the latter member has an annular ring 31 formed thereon adjacent to the spaced ends of the lever extension 24. Thus when the lever Ila is moved to establish fluid flow through the nozzle, the initial movement of the lever will cause ment 200. has its forward end faceted as indicated at 38. After the initial movement of the lever I la has caused the illumination of the lamp, continued movement of the lever will compress the spring 29 without injuring any part of the flash light. When the lever Ila is released to discontinue the flow of fluid through the nozzle, the springs 29 and 34 will cause the casing formed by the tubes 26 and 21 to elongate whereby the contact 36 will be spaced from the battery terminal and the lamp will be extinguished.

By forming the casing from the telescoping tubes 26 and 21 and locating the separable contacts near the closed end of the inner tube a long tortuous passage will be produced through which gas-laden air will have to pass to reach any sparks which might be created. If this gasladen air should be ignited, the pressures generated would be insumcient to burst the casing and, due to the long tortuous passage through which the gases must pass to reach the atmosphere, they would be sufliciently cooled as to be incapable of igniting the adjacent atmosphere should it contain enough gas to be combustible.

Another manner of constructing the device to prevent it from causing an explosion is to provide the rear end of the tube 21 with an opening 39 as disclosed in Fig. 3 and positioning a disk 40 formed of wire mesh over the opening. This disk will prevent flames which occur in the casing from escaping and igniting gas in the atmosphere around the nozzle. By the provision of the substantially air-tight casing, its remote location from the discharge end of the outlet tube and the employment 01' the light conducting element 20a, a safe nozzle light has been provided which will satisfy the requirements without the dangers inherent in devices of the character previously provided. Due to the manner of mounting the dash light on the bracket 2|, it may be readily removed and transported to a safe place for service. If it is desired, the flash light may be replaced by a lamp energized by current from a commercial supply without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motor fuel dispensing device of the type having a valved nozzle and manually operated means for actuating the valve of said nozzle,

' means for directing a beam of light in the direc- 2. In a gasoline dispensing nozzle of the type having a liquid control valve and an actuator therefor, means for directing a beam of light in the direction of liquid undergoing discharge from said nozzle comprising, a housing supported by said nozzle, a lamp mounted in said housing, a transparent wall forming a part of said-housing and arranged adjacent to said lamp, means controlled by the valve actuator for energizing said lamp, and a solid light-conducting means of plastic composition extending from a point adjacent to said transparent wall into said nozzle and longitudinally thereof to the outlet end.

3. In a fluid dispensing nozzle of the type having a valve containing body, means for actuating the valve in said body, and an outlet tube leading from said body, means for illuminating the discharge end of .said outlet tube comprising a casing having telescoping sections and a transparent wall portion, a lamp within said casing adjacent to said transparent wall portion, means for imparting telescopic movement to said sections upon the operation of said valve actuating means, means operated by the telescopic movement of said sections to energize said lamp to direct light rays through said transparent wall, and a light transmitting member carried by said outlet tube, one end of said member being disposed adjacent to said transparent wall and the other end being positioned adjacent to the discharge end of said outlet tube in the path of liquid flow therethrough.

JOHN F. KENDRICK. 

